Energy Secretary Chu: All American cars should be E85 capable

[KrazyRider83]

In early May, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $786.5 million "third-generation" biofuel program. Yesterday, ex-biofuel researcher Stephen Chu, the Energy Secretary, said that all cars made in America should be able to burn ethanol (E85). Earlier this month, Chu said electric vehicles were "inevitable."

Predictably, Chu made the E85 statement deep in corn ethanol country – in Des Moines, Iowa - yesterday, even though he has previously said that, "corn is not the right crop for biofuels." Chu's promotion of E85 capability seems to be driven by the low cost of making a standard internal-combustion vehicle able to burn the biofuel. Chu said that:

I've been told it costs about $100 in gaskets and fuel lines to turn a car so that it can go all the way to E85. But a new car, it would only cost $100 out of $15,000. Wouldn't it be nice to put in those fuel lines and gaskets so that we can use any ratio we wanted?

While Chu made clear that the Obama Administration is not ready to mandate any flex-fuel capability at this time, that "any ratio" line surely caught the attention of those pushing for an increase in the nation ethanol blend to 15 percent

Energy Secretary Chu: All American cars should be E85 capable

[4x4taco]

Hhhmm. Didn't we just try the whole corn ethanol thing?? Hence why food prices went through the roof. Do we eat, or drive? Tiz the Q. We need small, 2.0L or less, turbo stick shift diesels. TDI 6spd Civics, corollas etc. You'll see 50 MPG. That really puts the boot up the Arab's ass. this E85 is nothing but a gift to big farm companies. Total rip. And if "we're serious about cutting down on foreign oil".... we'd get a diesel!!!!

[longfellow2]

I'd rather convert my car to diesel than E85.

[shinmei2006]

Hhhmm. Didn't we just try the whole corn ethanol thing?? Hence why food prices went through the roof. Do we eat, or drive? Tiz the Q. We need small, 2.0L or less, turbo stick shift diesels. TDI 6spd Civics, corollas etc. You'll see 50 MPG. That really puts the boot up the Arab's ass. this E85 is nothing but a gift to big farm companies. Total rip. And if "we're serious about cutting down on foreign oil".... we'd get a diesel!!!!

no....food prices went "through the roof" because of fuel costs.

America produces more corn than any other agricultural product. We literally have silos of the stuff in "reserve". the problem with current ethanol technology is that to extract it from corn means we are wasting alot of the plant, progress is being made to use 99% of the plant and not just the kernels. Like he said corn isnt ideal because of its content, but its used because of its abundance. Other countries use sugar beets or cane.

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Hydrogen

[4x4taco]

Hence why I said it's a gift to the big Ag companies... Diesel, Diesel Hybrids and Hydrogen are the real future. This crap about plug in cars is a joke. Grid will fry, and you can only drive so long before a "recharge". Diesel Hybrids are getting like 80mpg. But wait.... wonder why we don't have them here in the US. For some reason the US doesn't want everyone to have diesels. Notice how diesel is always 20% higher than 87 octane. To offset the MPG gain. I got tired of the game and sold my 16/18mpg 10,000 pound F250 for a 3,800 pound 16/20mpg Tacoma. Diesel tacos in Europe get 20/33 mpg. We're getting bamboozled.

[KrazyRider83]

most diesels now averate 30+ mpg, maybe not the trucks, but the cars do, diesel motors are getting better and better, but are overlooked here in the states

[Ares]

that new vw clean diesel tdi gets like 58+ highway i belive which is unreal for any american car at the present moment and time this e85 bullsht is just a nother special intrest thing the gov is trying to push threw just like national health care. nothing but a crock of shit

[BAMF]

Hydrogen

Agree

[4x4taco]

E85= Crock of shit. YES.

[myltwon]

I have no prob with E85, lets you run more agressive timing

[4x4taco]

that's one thing you don't have to worry about with a diesel.... timing.